The Miami Dolphins, fresh off a great defensive performance against the Tennessee Titans at home at Hard Rock Stadium, now have to travel to play one of the NFL’s best offensive teams, a team fresh off a BYE week. The Falcons have scored 104 points so far this season in 4 games, which is exactly 63 points more than the Dolphins have scored. Doing some quick math in my head, the Falcons are averaging 26 points per game, while the Dolphins are averaging just better than 10 points per game. See a problem?

HC Adam Gase insists he is not changing from current starter Jay Cutler to backup QB Matt Moore. Some people are really upset about this, while some proclaim Cutlers arm is damaged, or his brain is shell shocked, and he can’t stand in the pocket because he’s afraid to take a hit, and despite all that, Gase stands behind Cutler as his starter. I know we’re so used to failure here in MIA, that even Gase the Great is now under tremendous scrutiny! What happened to “Trust in Gase’? Like Lucilla said so well, “The mob is fickle brother”. How true! Now all of a sudden we all know better than Gase, the guy who is with this team nearly 24/7, the one who is getting paid the big bucks to guide this team back to the playoffs, the one whose job security is on the line? Maybe we should step back and let Gase handle the situation. Do we really think Gase is clueless all of a sudden? I truly doubt he is.

This Sunday’s game provides quite a challenge, the rested Falcons have a multidimensional offense, with 2 talented RB’s who can both run and catch extremely well, Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman. Freeman has 285 yards rushing, while his backfield mate Tevin Coleman has just 181 yards rushing. They flip flop though on receiving yards, with Coleman putting up 153 yards receiving on 13 receptions, and Freeman with only 70 on 9 receptions. Both of these backs have around 350 yards of total offense, so no team gets a break with either of them on the field. That’s not all the Falcons offer on offense, far from it. The Falcons have one of the premier receivers in the NFL in Julio Jones. Jones has been hobbled by injuries this season, a lower leg injury early, a back injury, and most recently in Game 4 against the Bills before the BYE, a hip flexor injury. He has been limited to only 19 receptions for 295 yards, no TD’s, a very pedestrian start for the season. The BYE week should have allowed him to heal some, so we’ll see what Julio Jones can do against Xavien Howard and Cordrea Tankersley.

The Falcons defense is nothing special this season, although last season they were pretty good. They have excellent team speed, with a speedy group of LB’s that fly to the football, with Vic Beasley, Deion Jones and De’Vondre Campbell. The Falcons also have 2 of the better NFL CB’s, Des Trufant and Robert Alford. Patrolling the secondary is S Keanu Neal, who forced 5 fumbles last season, along with S Ricardo Allen. The front 4 are average, except DT Dontari Poe. Brooks Reed and Courtney Upshaw are the ends, with Dontari Poe and Grady Jarrett as the DT’s. Tak McKinley is on the depth chart at DE, a guy I liked for the Dolphins.

The way the Dolphins defense played last week, I think the defense can do enough to keep us in this game, but something has to get this offense going or we will be out of this one by halftime. Devante Parker will likely be a game time decision with his ankle injury, so that means either Jakeem Grant or Leonte Carroo, or some combination of the 2, would replace him. Parker brought so much promise in the preseason, a guy ready to make that leap to elite status, yet a bewildered offense led by Jay Cutler hasn’t allowed that to come to fruition. Gase has to find a way for this offense to get on track. Obviously getting the run game going would help, but maybe we have to get the passing game going to get the run game going. Maybe we have to try and throw the ball deeper than 10 yards past the LOS, and challenge opposing defenses. Why we haven’t done so is a combination of things. Plays are breaking down too quickly due to the offensive line not holding up their part, QB Jay Cutler is flustered too quickly as soon as he either senses or actually sees pressure, and it also seems none of the receivers are playing with any urgency and are fighting to get open. This has to change, or we will be 2-3 after this week.

I still Trust in Gase. We Dolphins fans are used to bailing on our coaches, mostly because they deserved it, but I don’t think Gase deserves that quite yet. So despite all the FU doctors, QB gurus, OC’s etc, maybe we should give Gase a chance to turn the offense around, just like he did last year, at 1-4. How bout it you stubborn SOB’s, can you do it? Can you be a loyal fan to the coach who brought us to the playoffs last season? Will you kneel when Gase runs through the tunnel and on to the field? Will that be disrespectful if you do? I guess that’s all in the individual eye of the beholder . . .

Ken says:
October 13, 2017 at 4:51 pm
Bowman has had major injuries in past
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Doesn’t matter to me being we don’t have enough cap to sign him. I just wish him best the of luck with his next team (NO to the Patsies*, stej, and Bills!) being he’s a PSU favorite. He’s been one helluva player.

I can’t believe what has happened to the 49ers in such a relatively short amount of time. It’s not as though their roster has been purged, rather their players are retiring early or asking for their release. It’s crazy.

Navaro Bowman is probably Timmons+. Im pretty sure they would be comparable in pass protection, both i think are better than they are given credit for, and Bowman is a better run stuffer. Im liking what i saw from our LB’s recently but Bowman would be an improvement over Mauluga. If we had him, and cut loose a depth guy, then everyone shifts back and our depth is notw good enought o start, so fresh rotation becomes a real option. Unfortunately, we cant afford to add Bowman though, he isn’t going to come that cheap and we really don’t have much room left cap wise.

We don’t need him. He never fully recovered from that brutal knee injury he suffered and was being taken off the field much like Mauluga in CIN on passing downs. I like the group we have at LB now. It came together in a strange type of way where it was once a concern and now it looks like a strength.

I dont know Tim, Bowman has 38 tackles this season already, no LB on our team has anywhere close to those numbers, and that was with me asking Timmons and Mauluga’s per game and extrapolating them over all 4 games. Kiko, who is supposed to be our best LB is 10 off that. So even saying oh he has one more game on them, number still wouldn’t be there.

I read a report about why he was released and that’s what they were saying. Tackle numbers don’t always equate to being a complete player. Wheeler had over a 100 tackles for us in a season and he was known for missing tackles. LOL

Bowman still plays the run well, that’s why I compared him to Mauluga.

I think he is finally there with regards to getting how to play at an NFL level, he is though still learning and has more to improve on. The play he went out on for example, should have been a 1st, and he needs to know those lttle details so he can make his game complete.

mf13ss says:
October 13, 2017 at 4:40 pm
It does seem that NaVorro has been around forever, but he’s only 29 years old.
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I’m blown away to read that. It does feel like I’ve been watching him play for 10 years. I would have guessed 34ish.

D,
Yeah, that’s why I focused on that one skill. He’s still working on others. But, going up and fighting for ball the way he has is big. He’d done it some but not as much in his first couple years, and he’s physical doing it. It was nice to see a little dog in him, ya know what I mean?

Yeah i know exactly what i mean, he reminded me a little of Boldin on some of the plays he has made this year. Ive never seen a WR other than Boldin, and maybe Julio Jones that does that kind of stuff.

Yeah i read that yesterday. He said he feels like Trump needs to apologize and then he will quit protesting. This isnt about the original cause now, its about standing up to Trump. Stills said the same thing about why he decided to go back to protesting. He had moved past it and was moving on to more civic changes, and then Trump made that statement and thats why they went back to kneeling and staying in the locker room now.

Tim i compared him to Mauluga too, or even Timmons to be honest, neither are great in pass pro at this point in their careers. Im just looking at it and saying if you are only as good as your weakest link, then adding him makes us have some serious depth and rotational LB’s. Imagine if Mauluga and Bowman and Timmons weare able to be rotated to remain fresh for a whole game. Thats a sick ass LB crew.

It’s weird with the Astros being in it seems like there are 3 National league teams left. Come on Yankees represent!
Cubs pulled that out similar to the Yanks. Cubs/ Yanks series would be one for the ages.

We get McMillan back next year so we’re adding young talent to the LB corps from within right off the bat. We’ve got some prime, vets, youth and potential moving forward. The defense is coming along nicely. Big test on the road in ATL. Good barometer though.

Son, as you mention it, the boss and I were talking this week about the wife and switching back to week days. We have worked every weekend with the exception of two weekends for the last 3+ years. By June, we will have 8 bondsmen in the office and should be able to make that switch before football season. I could make my first fest next year. Who knows!

So last night i’m flipping between TNF and Jets (hockey) pregame show.., they were playing Vancouver on West Coast, … the national anthem starts and i switched to TNF..all of a sudden i think if all you, and the anthem disrespect discussion… i was a dorky kid who used to stand for anthem when watching Hockey Night in Canada Saturday’s on my 12” B&W tv. Ironically funny and i felt a twinge of am i being disrespectful?? End of story… no answer required and was not looking to stir shit up

did anyone see the video of the fight at the Panthers game thursday night? Brutal to say the least. this guy numerous times sucker punched and older fan because he was asking him to sit down from blocking his view, the guy fled, what a moron, he’s toast assault charges and civil lawsuit.
This is why you should err to caution at the fest when you go to the game. a lot of drunk crazy people at these games

son of a son of a shula says:
October 14, 2017 at 11:58 am (Edit)
I’m not getting in any fights but if I got sucker punched like that there’s no way I stay in my seat the way that guy did. It’s on.
Reply
Mike E. says:
October 14, 2017 at 11:59 am (Edit)
Plus I’d be right there with you!
son of a son of a shula says:
October 14, 2017 at 12:00 pm (Edit)
Like wise Mike E without question
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Where was my back up when I was being assaulted by Jason Taylor’s former stewardess?

Ken I don’t think Gase pulls Culter this season without he basically quits trying and Gase realizes it. I know some of you will say he already has quit, but even if you ate right, Gase doesn’t see it that way

I dont think he’s Quit, i just think in RS i have seen the Cutler i always hated and that caused me to groan aloud when we signed him.. but as TO famously Cried 😭 Thats My QB… and yes he’s playing scared as well

Derek Trucks is a great slide guitar player who played with the Allman Brothers. His uncle was the late Butch Trucks, drummer for the Allman Brothers. His brother Duane Trucks is the Drummer for Widespread Panic. Dereck’s wife Susan Tedeschi is the singer and she also plays guitar. She has a great voice. They’re an American jam band.

son of a son of a shula says:
October 14, 2017 at 11:58 am
I’m not getting in any fights but if I got sucker punched like that there’s no way I stay in my seat the way that guy did. It’s on.
Reply
Mike E. says:
October 14, 2017 at 11:59 am
Plus I’d be right there with you!
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That video of the younger fan sucker punching the older guy makes me sick. Especially when he kept throwing punches after the guy didn’t engage. That dude is a pure scumbag. I’m extremely happy they ID’d him, and he’ll be prosecuted.

The Flying Pig says:
October 14, 2017 at 7:48 pm
The yahoo article says ratings of Thursday Night Football are up by 7%

That’s not hurting
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I believe it’s up 7% from last week, which was down 15% from last year. That’s a net loss of 8% from last year. That’s still a significant loss in viewership no matter how ya cut it.

I didn’t read the specific Yahoo article, so don’t hold me to this. I just continue to see the spin the NFL is putting on things to make people think their viewership is actually increasing from last year. That’s laughable, at best.

What does the NFL do with a bad , really bad franchise, lol
Chargers have very few fans willing to drive 120 miles one way to a game with heavy traffic. They also complain the prices are very high, and parking is nuts as well.
I saw some charger fans saying they are giving up commuting to the games, they claimed it’s not worth It, especially when they arent winning

I watched the Chiefs Texans game. Wow Chiefs are looking better than I have ever seen them.
They almost never turn the ball over, Oline kicks ass and opens huge holes for the rookie RB Hunt, who has never lost a fumble in NFL or NCAA.
Smith is very efficient, leads that team with command and presence, and damned if he can’t still run for the first downs, he’s mobile. and Kielce the TE? oMG he’s huge, and gets away with whatever He wants at times. He’s almost impossible to cover, and not much easier to tackle either.
Their offense is damn near perfect in efficiency, sure wish ours was, lol
Chiefs will be hell to stop this year, it will take zero mistakes, and an A plus game from Hell,
For 60 complete minutes.

Tedeschi Trucks Band are/were amazing. They are an American blues rock band, with soul, gospel and space jamming. Great band. The Beacon has the best sound I’ve ever heard for a show. I’ve probably seen 10-12 shows there over 3 decades. Still the best.